Alexander Rossi driving the Andretti Autosport Honda goes into turn one at the start of the Verizon IndyCar Series race at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, June 3, 2018 on Belle Isle in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

(L to R) With the Scott Fountain behind them, 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle second place winner Ryan Hunter-Reay sprays third place winner Alexander Rossi as race winner Scott Dixon joins in the fun.
This was the first race on the island in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018 with race number two on Sunday. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing powers through turn one during race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle and went on to win the race in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport and eventual third place winner leads eventual second place winner Ryan Hunter-Reay also of Andretti Autosport through turn one during race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle and went on to win the race in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

With the Scott Fountain behind them, 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle winner Scott Dixon stands on the top of the podium with his winners trophy with second place winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and third place winner Alexander Rossi next to him.
This was the first race on the island in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018 with race number two on Sunday. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing celebrates with his team after winning race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle and went on to win the race in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Fans watch the IndyCar action at turn five during race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle and went on to win the race in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport who finished second powers through turn one during race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle and went on to win the race in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport who finished second powers through turn six during race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle and went on to win the race in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Long lines form as IndyCar fans look for autographs of their favorite drivers during an autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village hours before race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

As current IndyCar champion Josef NewGarden looks on laughing, Indy 500 winner Will Power battles with and swatting away flying bugs hours before racing at high speeds on the racetrack. Powers was one of many IndyCar drivers that sat down for fans during an autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village hours before race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Indy 500 winner Will Power signs pictures during an autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village hours before race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

(L to R) Indy 500 winner Will Power and fellow IndyCar racer Simon Pagenaud look over pics a fan had of them during an autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village hours before race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Current IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden smiles with one of his fans Henri Rouyaux of Blaison, France as his friend William Lane, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada takes their picture during an autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village hours before race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Indy 500 winner Will Power gets a selfie taken with one of his fans Magan Ratcliff, 30 of Tampa Bay, Florida during an autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village hours before race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

IndyCar driver Takuma Sato adds his signature to a race helmet that a fan brought to the IndyCar autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village hours before race one of the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Marco Andretti driving the Andretti Herta Autosport Honda won the poll position for the Verizon IndyCar Series on Saturday, June 2, 2018, on Belle Isle in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks series trucks driven by Cole Potts and eventual winner Gavin Harlien get air going over the ramp on the straight during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press

Winner of race one of the Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks series, driver Gavin Harlien, number 55, gets the better of competitor Jeff Hoffman over the first jump before turn number one during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press

(L to R) Matt Brabham, Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Jeff Hoffman compete jumping over the first ramp near turn one during the first race of Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks series during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Winner of race one of the Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks series driver Gavin Harlien, number 55 of United Fiber and Data rounds turn one during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle weekend in Detroit on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

IndyCar driver for Team Penske and the winner of the Indy 500 last weekend, Will Power and Rene Binder of Junco Racing head around turn one during practice at the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Mason Watson, 4 of Southfield and his grandmother, Esther Taylor, also of Southfield watch Trans-Am practice from the grandstand behind the pit line during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018.
This is the second year Watson has come to the Friday Free Prix Day with his grandmother. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Melanie Krause who helps run the Excel General Motors internship program concentrates as she takes pictures of Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks as they jump off a ramp between turns eight and nice during their practice session at the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

One of the Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks gets air off of a ramp between turns eight and nice as people watch the action during a practice session at the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

(L to R) Christina Nielsen of Horsholm, Denmark who's is a two-time defending WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona talks with Anastasia Lewis a sixth grader, Paris Spearman a ninth grader and other girls from the Detroit International Academy for Young Women in Detroit during their tour of the paddock area at the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

IndyCar driver for Team Penske and the winner of the Indy 500 last weekend, Will Power heads around turn two during practice at the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

People compete in a Bouncing Bubbles match in the IndyCar fan area during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. The Bouncing Bubbles is a company from West Bloomfield, Michigan who are back for their second year at the Grand Prix. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Mason Watson, 4 of Southfield watches Trans-Am practice from the grandstand behind the pit line during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018.
This is the second year Watson has come to the Friday Free Prix Day with his grandmother Esther Taylor also of Southfield. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Robert Wickens of Team Schmidt Peterson Motorsports talks with the Detroit Free Press during a break from IndyCar practice about being on Team Canada as his friend and teammate James Hinchcliffe is also from Canada.
The two are competing at the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Robert Wickens of Team Schmidt Peterson Motorsports talks with the Detroit Free Press during a break from IndyCar practice about being on Team Canada as his friend and teammate James Hinchcliffe is also from Canada.
The two are competing at the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe of Team Schmidt Peterson Motorsports shows off his Go and Stop racing boots he had made. Hinchcliffe says at first it was done as a joke but it has since become something fun for him.
Hinchcliffe was taking a break in his suite inside the paddock after IndyCar practice number one during the 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2018. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

If I’d been driving the pace car Sunday around the IndyCar track at Belle Isle, I probably would’ve put it into the wall earlier and harder than Mark Reuss. You, too.

Driving a 755-horsepower Chevy Corvette ZR1 leading a pack of race cars around the tight, bumpy road course in Detroit’s signature park is far harder than it looks.

Writing about the auto industry, I’ve driven fast cars around famous race tracks all over the world. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ice rally courses north of the Arctic Circle, Formula 1 courses in Europe.

And the Indy road course that snakes around Belle Isle in the middle of the Detroit River. Its tight curves and bumpy surface regularly send the world’s best drivers spinning.

The potential to embarrass yourself is endless. I’ve declined every invitation to Belle Isle pro-am races, and even passed on a recent offer to compete in a race simulator.

The Corvette ZR1 GM product development boss Mark Reuss was driving when he spun out in Belle Isle’s infamous Turn 2 was probably generating more power than most of the IndyCars running behind it in their prerace settings. The pace lap around a road course is no ceremonial, homecoming-parade-speed saunter around the island. The pace driver has to help the cars behind him get up to racing speed and warm their brakes to operating temperature.

The odds are Reuss hit a mid-curve bump at just the wrong angle, launching the ‘Vette hard into the wall.

“It's very easy to do as you go over that crest, and the traction control must have been turned off,” Indy 500-winning driver Will Power said Sunday. “So yeah, I felt — wasn't really his fault. It's just such a bad corner. Like it's very easy to do … You know, that's racing, right? I've seen plenty of pace car crashes. Like I've seen plenty of people coming off in the wet and crash, and not abnormal.”

Reuss has mad skills. He’s one of just 30 engineers in all of GM who are certified to drive development vehicles on the diabolical Nurburgring Nordschliefe, Germany’s legendary 13-mile, 73-turn road course. He’s also licensed to drive FIA C and IMSA Road Racing cars.

He’s not a suit who was showing off and ran out of road and skill. Reuss led GM’s performance division for years. Now he oversees the development of some of the world’s fastest street cars, and he does it from the driver’s seat.